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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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GOOD DEEDS

"GOOD DEEDS SPEAK OF THEMSELVES. THE TONGUE ONLY INTERRUPTS THEIR
ELOQUENCE."

Submitter comment: SEMINARY PROVERB.

Where learned: SAINT JOSAPHAT SEMINARY ; WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): BRAGGING

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1962

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RIDDLE

WHAT IS RED AND WHITE ON THE OUTSIDE AND GRAY
ON THE INSIDE? ANSWER: CAMPBELL'S CREAM OF
ELEPHANT SOUP.

Data entry tech comment: THE CAMPBELL SOUP LABEL IS RED AND WHITE.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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Stories have been surfacing for years about ghosts wandering
the White House and sighted by various people. Mary Lincoln
saw Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman saw Lincoln (Truman said
that Theodore Roosevelt talked to Lincoln all the time but
he thought being a Republican helped.) Dozens of sightings
by people have occurred

Submitter comment: I have heard this several times about the White House.

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00001980S

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THE ANNEY OAKLEY

THE SILVER DOLLAR IS CALLED AN "ANNEY OAKLEY" BECAUSE SHE WAS
ABLE TO SHOOT THEM OUT OF THE AIR AFTER SOMEONE TOSSED IT UP.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange

Date learned: 12-04-1967

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PROVERB

YOU CANNOT REPENT TOO SOON, BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW
HOW SOON IT MAY BE TOO LATE.

Where learned: SAINT JOSAPHAT SEMINARY ; WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim

Date learned: 00-00-1962

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THE SAPPHIRE IS A SYMBOL OF TRUTH AND SINCERITY
AND COULD PROTECT THE WEARER FROM POISONING.

Submitter comment: LEARNED WHILE IN THE SERVICE IN INDIA.

Where learned: OHIO ; INDIA ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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A RUBY IS BELIEVED TO PROTECT THE WEARER FROM BAD
HEALTH, EVIL THOUGHT, AND LOSS OF WEALTH.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Measure of quality Monetary systemMoneyWealth
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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IT WAS BELIEVED THAT THE MOONSTONE CONTAINED THE
RAYS OF THE MOON, WHICH COULD RID THE WEARER
OF FEARS AND NIGHTMARES.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IN THE SERVICE WHILE STATIONED IN INDIA.

Where learned: OHIO ; INDIA ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed
BELIEF -- Moon
BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Mineral

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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OVERWEIGHT TEST

TWICE AROUND THE WRIST EQUALS ONCE AROUND THE LOWER
PART OF THE NECK. TWICE AROUND THE NECK AT ITS LOWEST
PART EQUALS ONCE AROUND THE WAIST.

Submitter comment: LEARNED IT FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quantity or weight Solid

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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SHOE SHINE

PEDAL EXTREMITIES ARTISTICALLY BEAUTIFIED AND
RENOVATED FOR THE INFINITESIMALLY SMALL REMUNERATION
OF 10CENTS PER OPERATION--A SHOE SHINE FOR A DIME.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula

Date learned: 12-05-1967

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COUNTING

1, 2 BUCKLE MY SHOE,
3, 4, SHUT THE DOOR.
5, 6, PICK UP STICKS,
7, 8, LAY THEM STRAIGHT.
9, 10, A BIG FAT HEN.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 12-04-1967

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COUNTING OUT RHYME

BUBBLE GUM, BUBBLE GUM IN A DISH
HOW MANY PIECES DO YOU WISH?
(SPELL OUT NUMBER OF PIECES)
S-E-V-E-N SPELLS SEVEN AND YOU'RE NOT IT.
LAST PERSON IS IT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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COUNTING OUT RHYME

I STRUCK MATCH AND IT WENT OUT.
LAST PERSON IS IT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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COUNTING OUT RHYME

ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
(SPELL OUT YES OR NO)
Y-E-S SPELLS YES AND MY MOTHER TOLD ME TO PICK THE
VERY BEST ONE. (EITHER FIRST ONE OR LAST ONE OUT IS IT)

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AT SCHOOL.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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MY MOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER WERE HANGING UP THE CLOTHES.
MY MOTHER PUNCHED YOUR MOTHER IN THE NOSE.
WHAT COLOR WAS THE BLOOD?
(PICK AND SPELL OUT COLOR)
R-E-D SPELLS RED AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE IT.
CONTINUE TILL LAST ONE LEFT IS IT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM FRIENDS AT PLAY.

Where learned: OHIO ; WASHINGTON ; WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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LIKE A TURTLE

EVEN A TURTLE GETS NOWHERE UNTIL IT STICKS OUT ITS NECK.

Submitter comment: SEMINARY PROVERB

Where learned: SAINT JOSAPHAT SEMINARY ; WASHINGTON DC

Keyword(s): ANIMAL

James Callow Keyword(s): AMPHIBIAN ; DARING ; OBSERVATION ; SYMBOL

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor

Date learned: 00-00-1962

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SPUD

ONE GAME WHICH IS PLAYED WITH A BALL IS KNOWN AS
"SPUD." ONE PLAYER IS DESIGNATED AS FIRST "IT."
HE TAKES THE BALL AND AFTER ALL PLAYERS HAVE BEEN
ASSIGNED A NUMBER BY ONE OF THE OLDER PLAYERS, THE
MAN WITH THE BALL CALLS THE NUMBER OF HIS CHOICE
AND THROWS THE BALL INTO THE AIR. THE PLAYER WHOSE
NUMBER HAS BEEN CALLED HAS TO RETRIEVE THE BALL WHILE
EVERYBODY ELSE SCATTERS. WHEN HE GETS THE BALL HE
YELLS "SPUD" AND EVERY BODY MUST STOP. HE CHOOSES
ONE PARTICULAR PLAYER AS HIS TARGET AND IS ALLOWED
TO TAKE THREE STEPS IN THAT DIRECTION, TOWARDS THE
PLAYER. HE NOW HAS TO HIT THE PLAYER HE HAS CHOSEN
WITH THE BALL. IF HE MISSES HE IS GIVEN A LETTER,
"S" FOR THE FIRST MISS, "P" FOR THE SECOND AND SO ON
UNTIL HE HAS "S-P-U-D" AT WHICH TIME HE IS OUT.
HE MAY NOT PLAY AGAIN UNTIL A NEW GAME HAS BEEN
STARTED. IF HE HITS THE PLAYER, HE HAS CHOSEN,
THE HIT PLAYER THEN BECOMES "IT" AND HE HAS TO GO
THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. IT IS A RULE THAT IF THE
PLAYER WHOSE NUMBER HAS BEEN CALLED CATCHES THE BALL
IN THE AIR, BEFORE IT HAS TOUCHED THE GROUND, HE MAY
CALL SOMEONE ELSE'S NUMBER AND THROW THE BALL BACK
IN THE AIR. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONE WHO GIVES OUT
THE NUMBERS IS AWARE OF WHO HAS WHAT NUMBER AND
IF HIS NUMBER IS CALLED HE IS ABLE TO PICK ON
WHOEVER HE PLEASED. THIS AIN'T FAIR.

Submitter comment: IS USED TO PLAY THIS GAME ALL THE TIME. AFTER
A WHILE I USUALLY GOT TO BE THE ONE WHO GAVE
OUT THE NUMBERS.

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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ENGINE, ENGINE

ONE OF SEVERAL METHODS OF DETERMINING WHO WOULD BE
"IT" IN GAMES LIKE TAG AND HIDE AND SEEK WAS FOUND
IN THE FOLLOWING RHYME:
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE,
ROLLING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THIS TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THIS TRACK,
DO YOU WANT YOUR MONEY BACK?
NOW, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE POINTED TO
AT THE WORD "BACK" AND HE SAYS YES OR NO. THEN
THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED AND THE PERSON WHO COMES
OUT "IT" IS THE ONE WHO IS TOUCHED AT THE LAST
WORD OF THIS:
"Y-E-S SPELLS YES AND YOU ARE NOT "IT."
OR, IF THE PERSON SAYS "NO" THE FOLLOWING IS RECITED
WITH THE SAME RESULT.
"N-O SPELLS NO AND YOU ARE NOT IT."
THIS SAME VERSE CONTINUES UNTIL ALL PARTICIPANTS
BUT ONE ARE ELIMINATED AND "IT" IS THIS LAST
PERSON WHO IS DESIGNATED TO BE "IT."

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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BASE STICKERS

IN GAMES OF TAG AND OTHER GAMES WHERE THERE IS AN
ESTABLISHED FREE BASE, THOSE PLAYERS WHO REFUSED
TO VENTURE FAR FROM THE BASE WERE USUALLY
YELLED AT A LOT AND LABELED "BASE STICKERS,"
SOCIAL OUTCASTS. THEY WERE USUALLY THE FAT,
SLOW KIDS.

Submitter comment: AS IN THE CASE IN MANY OF THESE EXAMPLES, THE
SOURCE OF THIS COLLECTION IS NOT REMEMBERED.

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport

Date learned: 11-24-1967

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PROVOCATION

WHILE PLAYING GAMES SUCH AS TAG OR HIDE AND GO
SEEK, ONE PLAYER WHO WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING
CHASED WOULD ANTAGONIZE HIS PERSUER WITH CRIES
OF, "YOU CAN'T CATCH A NANNY GOAT."

Submitter comment: THIS WAS SO COMMON BACK HOME THAT I AM UNABLE
TO FIX ANY CERTAIN DATE OR SOURCE TO THE SAYING
BUT I MYSELF HEARD IT AND SAID IT IN THE MIDDLE
1950S.

Where learned: WASHINGTON DC

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
SPEECH -- Game Pastime Sport

Date learned: 11-24-1967 ; 00001950S

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